What Makes Robert Lee A Hero

Robert Edward Lee was born on January 18th, 1807 in Stratford Hall, Virginia. He was destined for a military life as his father was a Revolutionary War hero. Colonel Henry Lee led cavalry in battles and won praise from General George Washington. When Lee turned 18, he enrolled in West Point Academy where he had major success, graduating with 5 other cadets in his class. After school, he married Mary Custis in June of 1831 and went on to have seven children. Lee went all around the country looking for work as his family stayed in Virginia, going to places such as: New York, St. Louis, Savannah, and Baltimore. Then in 1846, the Mexican-American War began. Lee’s first battle was under the command of the U.S. Commanding General, Winfield Scott. Lee strategized every battle after, gathering praise from Scott who put him up as an American Hero. After the war ended, it seemed as if Lee would be back on his plantation forever. This was true until he was sent to stop a rebellion led by John Brown, a abolitionist. Lee swiftly moved in and stopped the raid in its tracks and captured Brown. His capture eventually led to Brown’s execution on December 2nd, 1859. Then, in April of 1861, President Abraham Lincoln …show more content…
Just as George Washington, Lee tried to cross the Potomac River in Virginia. Tens of thousands of men were either captured, wounded, or killed just on the Confederate side during the Battle of Antietam. Then, in early May of 1864, the Battle of the Wilderness began. The Army of the Potomac, led by General Ulysses Grant, made a bloody attack on Confederate Forces. Lee was restrained and taken away by his men after one of his own men was wounded by his forces. Finally, on April 2nd, 1865, Lee gave up Richmond to Ulysses S. Grant. Soon after he surrendered to Grant in Appomattox, Virginia. Lee said, “I suppose there is nothing for me to do but go and see General Grant. And I would rather die a thousand